title: Seizures caused by ingestion of Atropa belladonna in a homeopathic medicine in a previously well infant: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Atropa belladonna is a poisonous plant that can cause anticholinergic effects when ingested. Roots, leaves, and fruits of the plant contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, which can lead to an anticholinergic toxidrome; however, not all characteristics of the toxidrome are necessarily present in each case of poisoning. We present an infant who suffered serious seizures after ingestion of a homeopathic agent containing A. belladonna. The 20-day-old infant arrived at the emergency department with fever and generalized seizures for 30 minutes, 2 hours after ingesting the correct dose of a homeopathic medication agent used for infantile colic. The patient was treated with intravenous benzodiazepines and antibiotics after a full sepsis work up; all the laboratory results were normal and the fever resolved after several hours. The infant recovered fully with normal neurological function and a normal electroencephalogram. This infant probably manifested what is known as the central anticholinergic syndrome. We discuss his presentation and review of the literature on this topic.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dana's Children Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 2Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ichilov Hospital, University of Tel Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 3Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and 4Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glatstein
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danino
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolyniez
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scolnik
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064807:Anticholinergic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D001532:Atropa belladonna / Q000506:poisoning*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003085:Colic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000506:poisoning*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008419:Materia Medica; D001569:Benzodiazepines